The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-03
DISHONEST PENSION AGENTS.
Some of the Tricks by Which They
Manage 10 Make Good
q Deal of Money.

81 Deal of Money.
The dishonest pension agent gathers
very little moss in the pension depart
ment, when the special examiner at
tends to his business" said Maj A. X.
Banks of the national pension agency
Yesterday.
Dishonesty thrives as well there as
elsewhere, does it not?" asked Il re-
porter.
Hardly" was the reply. The 'eA
aminers have Their system of eXamlna-
ton reduced to Il point that would as
tonish anyone not acquainted with the
business. Why, as soon as the claim is
filed, though its justice is as apparent
as sunlight, the whole matter is turned
over to an examiner who inspects it as
though the claimant was leagued with
Beelzebub himself in scheme TO de-
fraud the national treasury. When the
examiner has thus discussed the claim
he makes his report upon il. and II there
be any point that is the least doubtful,
any matter capable of any but absolute
" certain construction, the claim Is
ruthessly sent again upon its wander
ings through the army examiners, office
spec ais and supervising. when 1t has
run the gauntlet again, unless every
thing is perfectly square, the whole
business is summary dropped. Dis
honesty on the part of the agent imper-
lis the claim at every step. OF course
the agents realize this. and so. Tor the
most part. turn their attention eNclu-
sivcly to the ella 'mant whcE practising
sinuous ways. Only certain fee, fixed
bv unalterablc law, is allowed the agent,
and this fee is often ridiculously snail,
considering the amount of labor eX-
pendcd ,pon the claim. TO take more
imam this fee is n statutory crime and
punishment is swift and severe upon
The discovery OF such an offence. In
order to avoid the provisions OF the stat
ute. however, unst spulous agents ana
ATTORNEYS resort to all sorts OF schemes
and subtcriuges. One will be content
with present to his wife, either in the
way of money or moneys worth: an
other will sell the claimant a worthless
horse for a fabulous price; n tn ri wi!
accept present for himself; while
others will perform some triillng ser
vice for which the claimant pays them
whatever they may ask. OF course, ali
these schemes Of cNtOrtion are merely
doing indirectly what the law says shall
not be done directly, and consequently
are punished just rs though they were
done directly. This is only one OF
Their lricks-alIhough 1t is the common
cst--but perjury, false aililavts, and
forgerics are part of the stock in trade
of the d shoncst pension attorney The
interior department tres toprotcct it's
elf by rcqu ring all attorneys to have
certificate OF good stand ne, but, UNI
fortunately. YOU cant tell II d shonesi
lawyer by the color of hs eyes. Ten
wears service has taught me something
of their tricks and ways.
But are not the claimants some
times dishonest
"Frequcnily, and even the attorneys
don't detect this dishonesty somc-
times.
What form is most common in their
dishonesty
THAT OF showing hurts, wounds,
sores, and injuries, and claiming they
were received during the war, when in
reality they were iraceable TO bnzz-saws,
railway accidents, kerosene, and horse
stealing expeditions. | know OF one
case i'm which man claimed a pension
on account of blindness caused by q
qtnshot wound in the face, when upon
examination il was ascerlained that he
was sho. and left for dead when trying
TO desert his wife. before the war. His
wife belonged TO a very well-known
family. An alleged widow once both
cred me for long time about claim
for pension on account of her husband
having been K He'd in the service. She.
of course. stated that she had not mar
red again. One day man came in and,
saving that Mrs. -- was SEX, inquired
about her ella IN. ! answered him as
fully rs | cared to. and not having very
much to do just then, engaged him in
conversation. During the course Of
the conversat on happened 10 ask him
IL ne was rs attorney of Mrs. -.
Nc, me answered. I'm her husband.
And he was. Oh we used to get some
very queer FISH" st Lo.US RcpHb-
hcGH.